Philip Gosse—Birds of the Balearic Islands



11



Sijlvia melanocephala melanocephala. —What I believe to have been

a pair of Sardinian Warblers was seen and carefully watched in a public

garden near the city of Palma on April 2. Although not obtained they

were of course the typical species.


* Sylvia subalpina subalpina. —The only subalpine Warbler met

with was a male which 1 obtained in Formentera on April 19 amongst

some thick undergrowth ; its movements strongly reminded me of

the Dartford Warbler.


*Cisticola cisticola cisticola. —The Fantail Warbler is not common,

and I only met it amongst the very tall grass in the marshes near to

Alcudia. When disturbed it flies straight up to some one hundred feet

in the air, rising by a series of jerks, singing the while a shrill

squeaking song.


*Phylloscopus trochilus. —Both the Wood Warbler and the Willow

Warbler were fairly common in the islands.


*Ph ylloscopus sibilatrix.


Turdus merula. —The Blackbird is fairly numerous in Mallorca and

Iviza, though very wild. Not observed in Formentera.


*Ruticilla phcenicurus phanicurus. —The Redstart was first seen at

Santa Eulalia on April 12. It was common in Formentera.


*Erithacus rubecula rubecula. —On April 4 I procured a hen of the

South European Robin at Alcudia, Mallorca, the only specimen seen

by us in any of the islands.


Luscinia luscinia. —The only Nightingale seen was at Santa Eulalia

on April 14 in the afternoon. It was singing a few notes. It was not

obtained. It is therefore impossible to say whether it belonged to the

typical or the Eastern race.


*Saxicola rubicola rubicola. —The Stonechat is common in all three

islands in April, though in Mallorca we saw only males.


*Saxieola rubetra rubetra. —The first Whinchats w ere seen on April 14

at Santa Eulalia, Iviza, but not many ; a few days later w r e found them

to be numerous in Formentera. These birds w r ere certainly migrating.


*(Enanthe cenanthe. —Tw r o Wheatears seen for the first time on

April 8 at Alcudia, Mallorca. One specimen which was obtained

proved to be the Greenland Wheatear (CE. oe. leuconhoa), doubtless

passing through the island on migration. Wheatears were more



